I have played with and restored some tube amps but I have not yet tried to build an amp from scratch let alone a SS amp but I am SS curious 
What amps would be a good choice but not super expensive to build (Maybe $500?)
Nothing super crazy. I don’t need a volume knob but an integrated is OK too.
Thoughts?
What amps would be a good choice but not super expensive to build (Maybe $500?)
Nothing super crazy. I don’t need a volume knob but an integrated is OK too.
Thoughts?
Aleph J , M2 etc.
but first - what speakers , room , SPL you prefer
second - which source
anyway - you sure you don't have some other hobby to think of ?
drugs , parachuting , Russian Roulette ....... ?
Funny
I don’t have big speakers or a big room or big SPL needs. I do however, run some LS3/5a that are not efficient but run at about 11 ohms so they are not particularly hard to drive.I run a CD player, as well as stream. I would like a turntable as well.
Are you referring to the Aleph J? If so what do you have a ROUGH idea of what it cost to build one of these?
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I'm referring practically to any of First Watt (or Papamps) in upper bracket of output power , which is aroundish 25W/8R , though Aleph J and M2 are personal favorites
if you are really bond to 11R impedance speakers and do not intent to replace them soon , you can build an amp with somewhat higher PSU voltage , to cover for elevated load impedance , thus still having regular (25W) oomph at hand
maybe easiest to do that trick is with Aleph J (needing cascode voltage umbrella for input stage, when rising rails) than with some other FW amp , but that's it
of course , there are few more complicated ones , covering your needs ...... go to first watt site , look at products page , where you'll find most informative product table - showing output power , gain , dissipation etc.
if you are really bond to 11R impedance speakers and do not intent to replace them soon , you can build an amp with somewhat higher PSU voltage , to cover for elevated load impedance , thus still having regular (25W) oomph at hand
maybe easiest to do that trick is with Aleph J (needing cascode voltage umbrella for input stage, when rising rails) than with some other FW amp , but that's it
of course , there are few more complicated ones , covering your needs ...... go to first watt site , look at products page , where you'll find most informative product table - showing output power , gain , dissipation etc.
Thank you very much Zen Mod. I appreciate the PSU voltage tip. That would be great. I will be building more speakers with lower impedance but having an amp specifically for those speakers would be great.
What drives your lS35a now? Its not so much the load as it is efficiency...LS35A not being particularly efficient. Most of these FW amps dont have a whole lot of gain. If you are considering vinyl, depending on combination, can make further gain demands.
I have one system with smallish 87dB or so speakers set up in bedroom. Plenty of gain from M2 inthat room, which uses vinyl....but, also use BA3 FE as pre, and Pearl 2 for phono pre, both having loads of gain.
Otherwise, Zenmods babelfish with pumped up rails may be needed. I built a complementary out put BA3 power amp as per 6L6s build guide, 30-31 volt rails and it has more typical gain.
M2 is I think easiest, and one of best sonically to boot. Great first project...it will lead to others.
Russellc
I have one system with smallish 87dB or so speakers set up in bedroom. Plenty of gain from M2 inthat room, which uses vinyl....but, also use BA3 FE as pre, and Pearl 2 for phono pre, both having loads of gain.
Otherwise, Zenmods babelfish with pumped up rails may be needed. I built a complementary out put BA3 power amp as per 6L6s build guide, 30-31 volt rails and it has more typical gain.
M2 is I think easiest, and one of best sonically to boot. Great first project...it will lead to others.
Russellc
Thank you very much for this. I am checking out the M2. I did notice that the Aleph J specs differ than some of the others.
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